STEM OPT Machine Learning Engineer Jobs
Machine Learning Engineer roles sit squarely within STEM OPT eligibility, letting you work up to 36 months total with an employer enrolled in E-Verify. Your degree in computer science, statistics, or a related STEM field qualifies for the 24-month extension, giving you a longer runway to build production ML systems and pursue H-1B visa sponsorship.
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INTRODUCTION
It started with a simple idea: what if surgery could be less invasive and recovery less painful? Nearly 30 years later, that question still fuels everything we do at Intuitive. As a global leader in robotic-assisted surgery and minimally invasive care, our technologies—like the da Vinci surgical system and Ion—have transformed how care is delivered for millions of patients worldwide.
We’re a team of engineers, clinicians, and innovators united by one purpose: to make surgery smarter, safer, and more human. Every day, our work helps care teams perform with greater precision and patients recover faster, improving outcomes around the world.
The problems we solve demand creativity, rigor, and collaboration. The work is challenging, but deeply meaningful—because every improvement we make has the potential to change a life.
If you’re ready to contribute to something bigger than yourself and help transform the future of healthcare, you’ll find your purpose here.
ROLE
We are looking for a talented individual to join our growing machine learning and data science team to help provide creative ways to develop new technology focused on surgical workflow and performance for next generation robotic surgery platforms.
As a Machine Learning Engineer, you will work at the intersection of machine learning and engineering (i.e., MLOps) to contribute to innovative digital solutions leveraging Surgical AI/ML technologies. Immediate projects and responsibilities may include:
- Integrating machine learning into digital products and services by working cross-functionally across engineering, data science, and machine learning teams
- Developing automated workflows and tools to curate datasets and facilitate training of deep learning models
- Working closely with Machine Learning and Data/Software Engineering teams to develop efficient processes for model development/deployment for various applications
- Help support and manage a growing cloud infrastructure for MLOps
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
What you’ll need to be successful:
- M.S. or Ph.D. in computer science, electrical and computer engineering, or related fields
- Minimum 3 years of industry experience developing productionized code in machine learning, data engineering, or related field for AI applications
- Excellent communication skills both written and verbal
- A desire to work in a high-energy, focused, small-team environment with a sense of shared responsibility and shared reward
- Interest in early research and development through to product roll-out in the fields of surgical AI and surgical robotics
- Hands-on experience with ML frameworks, such as PyTorch, Tensorflow, or similar
- Knowledgeable about MLOps platforms (Domino Data Labs) and/or ML CI/CD workflows to manage datasets and model training, deployment, and monitoring
- Experience with MLOps tools like MLFlow, KubeFlow, W&B, etc
- Knowledgeable about Kubernetes
- Experience with cloud compute environments such as AWS, GCP, etc
- Experience with both edge and cloud deployments, focused on automation, scalability, and robustness
- Experience with Python and SQL
- Experience with Git e.g github, gitlab, bitbucket, etc
- Ability to travel domestically and internationally (5-10%)
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Additional desirable experience:
- Experience with successfully launching ML models into production
- Experience supporting large multi-modality dataset including image/video
- Experience within healthcare
- Experience with federated learning
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Due to the nature of our business and the role, please note that Intuitive and/or your customer(s) may require that you show current proof of vaccination against certain diseases including COVID-19. Details can vary by role.
Intuitive is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants and employees, and prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type, without regard to race, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, color, age, religion, protected veteran or disability status, genetic information or any other status protected under federal, state, or local applicable laws.
U.S. Export Controls Disclaimer: In accordance with the U.S. Export Administration Regulations (15 CFR §743.13(b)), some roles at Intuitive Surgical may be subject to U.S. export controls for prospective employees who are nationals from countries currently on embargo or sanctions status.
Certain information you provide as part of the application will be used for purposes of determining whether Intuitive Surgical will need to (i) obtain an export license from the U.S. Government on your behalf (note: the government’s licensing process can take 3 to 6+ months) or (ii) implement a Technology Control Plan (“TCP”) (note: typically adds 2 weeks to the hiring process).
For any Intuitive role subject to export controls, final offers are contingent upon obtaining an approved export license and/or an executed TCP prior to the prospective employee’s start date, which may or may not be flexible, and within a timeframe that does not unreasonably impede the hiring need. If applicable, candidates will be notified and instructed on any requirements for these purposes.
We will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records in accordance with fair chance laws.
Preference will be given to qualified candidates who do not reside, or plan to reside, in Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, or Tennessee.
This position may be filled at a different job level than listed here depending on business need and/or on the selected candidate’s experience, knowledge and skills.
Compensation will be based primarily on the job level at which the role is filled and the candidate’s qualifications, consistent with applicable law.
We provide market-competitive compensation packages, inclusive of base pay, incentives, benefits, and equity. It would not be typical for someone to be hired at the top end of range for the role, as actual pay will be determined based on several factors, including experience, skills, and qualifications. The target compensation ranges are listed.
Base Compensation Range Region 1: $164,000 USD - $236,000 USD
Base Compensation Range Region 2: $139,400 USD - $200,600 USD
Shift: Day
Workplace Type: Set Schedule - This job will be onsite weekly, the percentage of onsite work will be defined by the leader.
LOCATION
Peachtree Corners, GA, United States
Not Remote
Engineering
JOB210549
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization as a Machine Learning Engineer
Verify your CIP code before applying
Check that your degree's CIP code appears on the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List. Computer science, data science, and applied mathematics all qualify, but some interdisciplinary programs don't. Confirm with your DSO before submitting your STEM OPT extension request.
Confirm E-Verify enrollment before accepting offers
Every employer who hires you on STEM OPT must be enrolled in E-Verify. Search the E-Verify employer search tool by company name to confirm active enrollment before you sign anything. A company that isn't enrolled can't legally employ you on the extension.
Target roles with explicit ML infrastructure ownership
Job postings that list model deployment, MLOps, or production pipeline work signal deeper engineering need and stronger H-1B sponsorship intent than pure research or analytics roles. Employers filing LCAs for these specializations have a documented business need that supports future petitions.
Use Migrate Mate to filter for E-Verify employers
Search Machine Learning Engineer roles on Migrate Mate, which filters listings to employers with verified sponsorship history. You'll see which companies have active E-Verify enrollment and prior STEM OPT hiring patterns, cutting out the guesswork before you apply.
Negotiate your I-983 training plan before day one
Your employer must complete and sign Form I-983, detailing your learning objectives and supervision structure. Raise this during the offer stage, not after you start. ML roles should specify concrete deliverables like model evaluation frameworks or deployment pipelines, not vague descriptions of team contribution.
Time your H-1B registration around your OPT end date
If USCIS selects you in the H-1B lottery with an October 1 start date, cap-gap protection extends your STEM OPT authorization automatically while your petition is pending. Missing the March registration window means a gap in status, so track your OPT expiration date against the annual H-1B registration period.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a machine learning engineer role qualify for STEM OPT?
Yes, if your underlying degree has a CIP code on the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List. Degrees in computer science, electrical engineering, statistics, and applied mathematics all qualify. The role itself must also align with your degree field, and your employer must document that connection in Form I-983. Your DSO confirms eligibility before submitting the extension request to USCIS.
How do I verify that a machine learning employer is enrolled in E-Verify?
Use the E-Verify employer search tool to look up the company by name or employer identification number before accepting an offer. Active enrollment is a legal requirement for any employer hiring STEM OPT students, not just a best practice. If the company isn't listed, they can't hire you on the extension, regardless of their sponsorship willingness or size.
What goes into the I-983 training plan for a machine learning engineer?
Form I-983 must describe your specific learning objectives, the supervision structure, how the role relates to your STEM degree, and how your employer will evaluate your progress. For ML roles, that means naming concrete technical areas like model training pipelines, feature engineering, or inference optimization. Generic job descriptions don't satisfy the requirement. Both you and your supervisor must sign it, and it must be updated if your role or responsibilities change materially.
What happens to my STEM OPT if I'm selected in the H-1B lottery?
If USCIS selects your H-1B petition and your employer files it before your OPT expires, cap-gap protection automatically extends your work authorization through September 30 of that year. You can keep working for the same employer during that period without interruption. If October 1 arrives and your H-1B is still pending or approved, your H-1B status begins and your OPT ends.
Where can I find machine learning engineer jobs that sponsor STEM OPT students?
Migrate Mate lists Machine Learning Engineer roles filtered to employers with active E-Verify enrollment and documented sponsorship history, so you're not wasting applications on companies that can't hire you on OPT. You can search by role, location, and employer sponsorship activity to prioritize companies that have already navigated STEM OPT hiring and are set up to support the I-983 process.